Page 68 of Winter Gods & Serpents

He half retreated still flaring in heat of his anger. “Father will find a way.”

To prolong life? Were the unblessed this uncultured in the sense of our abilities and way of living?

“He is many things, god it’s not one. But,” she stopped, raising a finger toward the sky, “even they cannot help. You are unblessed for a reason. There is no god for you, no blessing, no eternalness just small, short, wrinkly pathetic lives.”

I was with her on this one, except the need for insults to state her point.

“You are human too, blessed or unblessed.”

“I didn’t say I wasn’t, but I am not the one playing heir, half breed.” She let go of him, annoyance readable in her features as she took off.

“Why do you pretend not to want to be,” he called behind her, “I know you are seething in your head.”

“If I wanted to be heir of hell, Reuben dear, I’d try my chances in Caligo. I’d rather be between fire than frost, the cold it’s terrible for my skin.”

That…was funny. Sigh. The cold was freezing my senses.

“Then why did you come back?”

“I was bored.”

“Now you are marrying the Obscur Asteri, should have stayed hidden.”

“Hide? But why, dearest, a crown waits for me whilst a gilded head stone awaits you.”

“That should have been you twelve years ago,” he shouted, shaking out of his skin. “Under earth, silent, dead along with your siblings and your bitch of a mother.”

She stilled a while. I didn’t know whether that was her hurt or angry, but I wished she was neither. It was a horrible thing to say to someone escaping death and live while you saw your family lose to it.

She turned, that feigned smile returning to her absent face. Her brother stood his ground all high chin and glaring eyes, though his shadows read of leg shattering fear that turned into horror when she approached to fix his collar once again. “Serpent patterns are strange to follow, slithering in locomotion when you can just keep straight. It must be so difficult to waddle about your life, but you would not know. You’re a worm, your pace is that of others mercy.”

“Gloat in your words, Snowlin.”

She leaned over his shoulder and his face froze aghast while she said, “Says the worm I am holding under my boot. I am heading to Arynth too, you little mortal half breed heir.”

Reubens eyes dropped between them, lurid shadows of fear swirling in gusts out of him. She moved away in a wide grin and I saw what had caused the half-brother to stiffen.

She sheathed the elegant silver dagger back to her thigh and strutted towards the stables. She was a terrifying sight to behold.

“Mercy becomes you, princess.” I said, mounting my horse after her.

“I prefer my feed alive, where is the fun in the dead.”

A stupid comment deserved the stupid answer it got. “Why are we headed to Arynth?”

“Father has called a meeting to discuss your ilk and their proposal for the crafter unveiling and the border control after the wall comes down. The bordering lords are concerned your little grasshoppers will pollute these grounds upon unchaining.”

“Is Silas not worried his own snowhoppers might change frost for sun?”

“Why would anyone exchange one hell for another is beyond me. I am only attending for entertainment, and perhaps some lovely pumpkin seed cinnamon buckwheat biscuits. Arynth is a master at them.”

Was she joking?

* * *

She cracked the meeting room door loud wide open and searched all bored with her gaze.

“Snowlin, you have made it. Reuben…you too,” Lord of Arynth greeted, somewhat confused at the presence of the highborn.